Wake me up when this madness is over!

By Wole Olaoye We are in a season of canonised madnesses. In this era where the old definition of decency makes no sense to the Gen-z, somebody has got to tell the truth as it is, even if it runs contrary to your psychedelic unwisdom. The intricate immoral dribbles navigated by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to keep Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, alias Kwam 1, out of jail led the government to also bend the law to allow Comfort Emmanson off the hook. No doubt, Wasiu is a notable Fuji musician who has made good with millions of fans in Southwest Nigeria

Africa Startup Festival set to transform Lagos into Africa’s Innovation Capital this November

The Africa Startup Festival (ASF), billed as the continent’s largest annual gathering for innovators, investors, and startup founders, will take place in Lagos on November 28, 2025, drawing thousands of participants from across Africa and beyond. Organised by Spark Africa, the one-day event aims to accelerate innovation, collaboration, and deal-making within Africa’s fast-growing startup ecosystem. Organisers expect over 3,000 attendees, including C-suite executives, investors, media analysts, and ecosystem builders from at least 15 countries. This year’s edition will feature three dedicated stages: a Main Stage for keynote speeches and industry panels; a Startup Stage showcasing emerging entrepreneurs and growth stories; and an

Keyamo orders release of Comfort Emmanson, reduces KWAM 1 ban, and calls for aviation security reform

In a surprise policy shift, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered the withdrawal of criminal complaints and flight bans in two recent high-profile cases of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports—one involving an Ibom Air passenger, the other legendary fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (popularly known as KWAM 1). The minister announced the decisions in a statement issued Wednesday, citing compassionate grounds and remorse shown by the actors. He emphasised that the government’s stance on aviation safety remains uncompromising, warning that this clemency “draws a line” for future conduct. Ms. Emmanson was at the centre of a viral

The role 21st century booksellers play in realising SDG 4—quality, inclusive and equitable education

By Oreoluwa Lesi SDG4 focuses on education and aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” It includes seven targets, which cover eliminating disparities in accessing education at the early childhood and primary levels based on gender, ability, and other socio-economic factors and, as much as possible, encouraging all women and men to stay through to the tertiary level; ensuring that all youth and a large proportion of adults are literate and numerate; and ensuring that all learners can get the knowledge and skills needed to gain employment and contribute to sustainable development. When we

The Role of Worldreader in achieving SDG 4 – Inclusive, Equitable and Quality Education: The East African Perspective

By Joan Mwachi-Amolo (Kenya) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) aims to “ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Among its several core targets are universal youth literacy, early childhood development, universal pre-primary, primary and secondary education, and education for sustainable development and global citizenship. To reach SDG 4, unequal access to and quality of education must be fixed, and effective and inclusive learning environments must be created. It also requires supporting teachers, educators, and families as they facilitate learning. Tackling the Global Learning Crisis: The Transformational Power of Reading Reading is the foundation of all learning.

The Role of Libraries in realising SDG 4 – Inclusive, Equitable and Quality Education: The West African Perspective

By Nkem Osuigwe Libraries exist within the formal and informal sectors of the learning ecosystem. They are very important to learning in schools and in the different communities where they live all over Africa. They are critical for achieving an inclusive, equitable, and quality education where no one is left behind including those who are in employment and cannot attend school full-time and/or are taking online courses. They are also critical for those who have fallen through the cracks of the educational system as school dropouts at various stages of their educational journey or out-of-school children. Before School Age Public libraries introduce preschool

Qualities to look out for in friendship

When it comes to qualities to look out for in friendships, it is very important to seek out values you hold dear—values you cannot compromise.Time and experience have a way of teaching us what is important to us and what to hold dear.We also learn hard lessons when we ignore red flags and proceed, only to get our fingers burnt. I remember a nasty experience I had some years ago, and after everything, I realised the fault came from me. I didn't do proper vetting as I should have done, and so I brought into my space someone who didn't qualify

Can a ghost be a biological father?

By Wole Olaoye Once in a blue moon, something happens that throws you back to the distant past — almost like reliving the thrills of writing a cover story for DRUM several decades ago. A man, Emeka, who had died in Nigeria in 1999 showed up in the Gambia ten years later, married  a lady named Amina and fathered four children before disappearing forever. Four years ago, an unknown visitor told Amina and her father that they had all along been dealing with a ghost from the spirit world.  When the story became public, petrified neighbours and strangers teamed up to banish Amina and

Finding Yourself Again

This topic is a very deep one. It is both a process and a journey, but I will attempt to scratch the surface today. Many things in life constantly demand our time and attention, and we keep giving of ourselves until we are spread thin with nothing left to give. A lot of times, a life experience shakes the foundation on which we have built our lives and throws us curve balls—curve balls we can turn into learning curves if we decide to. These experiences range from betrayal to divorce, to feelings of unfulfillment, loss of a loved one, or even empty